Reinforced fabric and method of making same



Nov. 16, 1937. H. E. WILLIAMS REINFORCED FABRIC AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Fild Jan.

.U W Mm W f H & 4 ww fl 7 W A w 6 M J W W mama Nov. 16. 1931 PATENT OFFICE 2.09am 'nsinroacsn ramuc arm METHOD or MAKING sm- Harold E. Williams, Carthage, Mo.

Application January 29, 1937, Serial No. 122,978

18 Claims.

My invention relates to reinforced fabrics and methods of making same. It relates particularly to a reinforced fabric adapted for use in connection with padding adapted for use as a cushion 5 on the tops of coil springs, such as are used in inner spring mattresses, spring seats and their backs, and upholstered furniture.

One of the objects is the provision of novel reinforced fabric adapted to cover the upper ends of coil springs for preventing padding crowding ,into or between the springs, which is simple,

cheap, strong, durable, not likely to get out of order, which will not become permanently malformed, even with severe use, and which is emcient in operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel method by which my improved reinforced fabric can be cheaply and rapidly made.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanyin drawing illustrative of my improved reinforced fabric, and an apparatus and method of making it,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred form of my improved reinforced fabric.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the fabric partly comple Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the upper member of the wire guiding means.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modification of my improved fabric partly finished and partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental vertical sectional view of the wire guiding means.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental cross section of the wire guiding means.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view. enlarged, of a portion of one of the reinforcing wires.

Fig. 8 is a rear end view, partly broken away, of one of the interweaving wires, as formed.

Fig. 9 is a reduced top view, partly broken away, and parts removed of a mechanism for interweaving the wires and feeding the fabric.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the difierent views.

In making my improved reinforced fabric and in carrying into effect my improved method in the making of it, a wire is interwoven trans- 50 versely across a strip of fabric, the endportions of the wire being left exposed at the same side, preferably the upper side, of the strip.

The end portions are then formed into two lateral arms, preferably extending lengthwise of 55 the strip at the same side of the wire the direction opposite that in which it is intended to feed the strip.

The said aware of like length and each is provided at its free end with a loop, preferably inclined to the plane of the strip, the loops of 5 the arms being alined with each other transversely across the strip.

The fabric strip is then fed forwardly, in a directionopposite to the direction in which the arms extend from the wire, a distance equal to it the distance of the loops from the interwoven part of the wire.

Another wire is then passed through the loops and interwoven through, the strip between the loops. The end portions of the second wire are 5 then formed into lateral arms corresponding in dimensions and disposition to the arms of the first wire, and extending in the same direction as the first arms. The fabric strip is then again fed forwardly a distance corresponding to that it was fed the first time, thus completing one of a series of similar cycles.

After the fabric strip has thus been reinforced it may be transversely severed into units of desired length, the lateral arms which are severed being bent to lie parallel with the wire of which they form a part, to retain the wire in its operative position.

In Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 9 are shown parts of a mechanism with which my improved method may be carried into eifect and a strip of fabric reinforced in the manner just hereinbefore described.

Referring to Fig. 9, l designates a strip of fabric which is adapted to be fed lengthwise from a supporting roller 2 by being wound upon a power driven drum 3 upon which the reinforced fabric I is wound by intermittent movements.

The fabric i lies upon and is fed across a flat horizontal supporting member 4, from one end of which extends a tubular wire guiding member 5 through which a reinforcing wire 6 is intermittently fed from a drum 1 carrying the wire. The tubular member 5, next to the supporting member 4, is provided with a transverse slot 8 45 which intersects the opening through the member I 5, and which is adapted to receive a shearing blade 9 pivoted to the member 4.

For guiding the wire 6 when the wire is withdrawn from the drum 1 and interwoven trans- 5o versely across the fabric strip I, the upper side.

. of the supporting member 4 is provided with a row of bosses Ill respectively provided with guiding grooves H alined with each other and dis- P SQQ transversely to the strip I.

" with guiding grooves I5, which aline with the grooves I I and with each other.

The bar II is provided with suitable means, not shown, by which it may be intermittently raised from the lower position, shown in Fig. 5, to an upper position, shown in Fig. 6, in which latter position the strip I is permitted to be forwardly fed.

In the operation of the mechanism, the wire 6 1 is fed from the drum I through the guiding tube 5 and through the guiding grooves I I and I5, the bar I4, at the time, being in the lower position, shown in Fig. 5. The wire 6 is thus interwoven through the fabric strip l. The shearing blade 9 is then operated to sever the wire.

The bar I4 is then raised to the position shown in Fig. 6 after which the exposed end portions of the interwoven wire 6, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, are formed into lateral arms I6 of like length and extending rearwardly of the interwoven part of the wire, as shown in Fig. 2. The free end of each arm I 6 is provided with a loop II, the openings of which loops aline. Preferably the loops I'I incline to the plane of the strip I, in which position, they project from the fabric the least, while permitting the wire 6 to be easily threaded therethrough.

The drum 3 is then revolved so as to feed the strip I onto the drum, and a distance such that the loops I! will aline with the longitudinal opening through the guiding tube 5. The feed of the strip is then stopped, and the bar I4 is again lowered to the position shown in Fig. 5, thus completing one of a series of similar cycles.

The end bosses I3 of the bar I4 are respectively provided with two recesses I8, which are shown in Fig. 3, and which receive and hold the lateral arms I6 with their loops I'I alined with the tubular member 5 and the grooves II and I5.

Wire 6 is then again fed from the drum 1 through the tube 5, guiding grooves II and I5, and loops I1, thereby being interwoven through the fabric strip I between the loops I'I, following which the other operations of the first cycle, before described, are repeated.

The cycle of operations just before described is repeated until the desired amount of reinforcing has been applied to the fabric strip. The strip may then be transversely severed to provide the different reinforced units desired.

The portions remaining of lateral arms which are severed in severing the strip may be bent parallel with the wire, as indicated by I9 in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1 is shown a completed unit, which may be employed on the upper ends of coil springs to prevent padding being forced between or into the springs.

In the modified form, Fig. 4, the left arm I6 of the second wire, is formed'before the wire is interwoven, and the wire is then interwoven through the fabric, and inserted through the loops I1 of the preceding wire. The right end portion of the wire is then bent to form the right arm IS. The next wire with the left arm I 6 is similarly interwoven and the right arm then formed.

The invention may be modified in many ways, other than as shown, within the scope of the tween the loops,

appended claims, without departing from its spirit.

What I claim is:-

l. The method of reinforcing fabric consisting in interweaving wires parallel with each other through the fabric, with the end portions of the wires at one side of the fabric, forming s: .cl end portions into lateral arms each with a loop at its free end, and disposing the wires in the loops of adjacent wires.

2. The method of reinforcing fabric consisting in interweaving wires parallel with each other through the fabric, with the end portions of the wires at one side of the fabric, forming said end portions into lateral arms each with a loop at its free end, the arms of each wire being at the same side of the wire, and disposing the wires in the loops of adjacent wires.

3. The method of reinforcing fabric consistingin interweaving a wire through the fabric, with the end portions of the wire at one side of the fabric, forming said end portions into lateral arms at one side of the wire with a loop at the freeend of each arm, interweaving another wire through the fabric and through said loops, and fastening the end portions of the second wire to said loops.

4. The method of reinforcing fabric consisting in interweaving a wire through the fabric, with the end portions of the wire at one side of the fabric, forming said end portions into lateral arms at one side of the wire with a loop at the free end of each arm, interweaving another wire through the fabric and through said loops, and forming the end portions of the second wire at the outer side of said loops into lateral arms at one side of the second wire with a loop at the free end of each of the last named arms, for receiving a third wire, thus completing one of a series of similar cycles.

5. The method of reinforcing fabric consisting interweaving a wire through the fabric with the end portions of the wire at the same side of the fabric, forming said end portions into lateral arms at the same side of the wire with a loop at the free end of each arm, said loops being inclined to the plane of the fabric and with their openings alined with each other, and interweaving a second wire through the fabric between said loops and through said loops.

6. The method of reinforcing a fabric strip consisting in interweaving a wire through the strip with the end portions of the wire at the same side of the fabric, forming said end portions into lateral arms of like length at the same side of the wire with a loop at the free end of each arm, said loops being inclined to the plane of the strip with their openings alined with each other, then passing a second wire through said loops and interweaving it through the strip beand then forming the end portions of the second wire at the outer sides of said loops into lateral arms of like dimensions and disposition and extending in the same direction as the first named arms, thus completing one of a series of similar cycles.

'7. In a method of reinforcing fabric, interweaving a wire through the fabric with the end portions of the wire at the same side of the fabric, and forming said end portions into lateral arms of like length, with a loop at the free end of each arm adapted to receive therethrough another similar wire.

8. In a method of reinforcing with the end III) portions of the wire at the same side of the fabric,

and forming said end portions into lateral arms of like length, with a loop at the free end of each arm inclined to the plane of the fabric and adapted to receive therethrough a similar wire a'rn a method of reinforcing a fabric strip, feeding a wire transversely to the length of the strip and interweaving it through the fabric,

with the end portions of the wire at the same side of the strip, forming said end portions into lateral arms of like length at the same side of the wire with a loop at the free end of each arm.

saidloops having their openings alined with each other transversely to the length of the strip, then feeding the strip lengthwise in a direction opposite that in which said arms extend from the wire a distance corresponding to the distance of said loops from the wire, then feeding a second wire through said loops and interweaving it through the strip between said loops, then formend portions of the wires at the same side of the strip, opposite end portions comprising lateral arms extending lengthwise of the strip and having looped engagement with the end portions of adjacent wires.

11. A reinforced fabric comprising a fabric strip having interwoven therethrough parallel wires, the end portions of which are at the same side of the strip, the end portions of each wire comprising lateral arms of like length at the same side of. the wire and having looped engagement with one of the next adjacent wires adjacent to the end portions thereof.

12. A fabric, a reinforcing strip disposed flatwise thereon and comprising a series of resilient members having transverse middle portions and having end portions forming arms extending lengthwise of the strip and having looped engagement with the middle portions respectively of adjacent ones of said members, and means for attaching said strip to said fabric.

13. A fabric, a reinforcing strip disposed flatwise thereon and comprising a series of resilient members having transverse middle portions and having end portions forming arms extending lengthwise of the strip and having looped engagement with the middle portions respectively of adjacent ones of said members, and means attaching said fabric to said middle portions.

HAROLD E. WILLIAMS. 

